Resilient holding device



April 8, 1952 B. E. THURNESS RESILIENT HOLDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27. 1947 INVENTOR. Bernam T/wrnsss.

ATTORNEYS.

April 8, 1952 B. E. THURNESS 2,592,356

RESILIENT HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 27, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4 -21 Ber ET/Iurness.

9 ATTORNEYS.

B. E. THURNESS 2,592,356

RESILIENT HOLDING DEVICE April 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27, 1947 1 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7' RESILIENT HOLDING DEVICE Bernard E. Thurness, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,540

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to article fastening or holding means in the nature of resilient clips or the like, which are capable of being applied to backing objects such as sun visors of automobiles for the purpose of releasably holding papers, cards and other articles against either or both sides of such backing objects.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a resilient clip or holder of this type which comprises as a unitary structure a resilient form having a plurality of article gripping portions operable selectively, yet cooperating to receive and grip or clamp an article placed between said selected portion and a backing object while the unselected portions function to grip said backing object.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the above named character which may be made from a single piece of length of resilient wire, metallic or plastic, by forming the same to the desired configuration.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character identified, which comprises a structure formed of resilient wire in such manner as to provide a plurality of article gripping portions selectively operable and so related that upon flexing one of said portions to grip an article between it and a backing member on which the device is mounted, said other portionswill function to resist such flexing said one portion.

Another object is a clip having a plurality of portions operable selectively whereby multiple objects may be clamped between said clip and a backing member on which the clip is mounted.

A still further object consists in the provision of a clip constructed of a single length of resilient wire and having a plurality of gripping portions formed to be easily grasped by the user wherebythe same may be flexed about a fulcrum located in another article gripping portion.

Other objects consist in simplicity of construction, low cost of manufacture, ease of operation, adaptability to backing members of various sizes and durability in use.

Still further objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent as the following description of several embodiments thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts through the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of be applied to the visor on the reverse side thereof and to the grip shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention as viewed from the reverse side of the visor as shown in Figure 1; p

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line IVIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view taken in the direction of line V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one side of the sun visor showing a second embodiment of my invention applied in use; 7

Figure '1 is a transverse section taken on line VII-VII of Figure 6; 3

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 but from the reverse side of the visor;

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on line IX-IX of Figure 8; v V

Figure 10 is a view taken in the direction of line X-X of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of my invention;

Figure 12 is a front view of the same shown applied in use on a sun visor;

Figure 13 is a section taken on line XIII-XIII of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a section taken in the direction of line XIV-XIV of Figure 12.

The invention in its broader aspects contemplates one or more units employed independently or cooperatively and preferably formed of re silient wire and of such configurations as to pro-. vide a number of clamping portions selectively operable to clamp or otherwise. securely and re.- leasably hold an article between the same and a portion of backing member on which the unit or units are mounted. These units are so designed that they are adapted to firmly grip a backing member and to be free of rotative move.- ment thereon, said units lying generally in a plane substantially parallel to the adjacent face of the backing member. Furthermore, the in-. vention also provides for cooperating means whereby said units may be coupled selectively upon the reverse sides of a backing member such as a, sun visor to provide increased areas upon which articles may be clamped or held.

In carrying out my invention, as illustrated b the several embodiments shown in the drawings; Iwill proceed with a more detailed description of the same as shown, reference being made first to Figures 1 to inclusive which illustrate one form of the invention.

A sun visor or other backing member is shown at I, the top edge 2 being of circular cross section to accommodate the mounting rod 3, while the bottom edge 4 may terminate in a relatively thin portion.

Referring more particularly to Figure l, a clamping unit is shown mounted to lie on what may be called the top face of a sun visor This unit is formed of a single continuous length of resilient wire into a configuration which includes oppositely disposed loops or wings 5 and 6 each comprising the portions 1 lying transversely of the visor and connected together with a diagonally extending portion 8. The opposite ends of the transverse portions 1 are connected by the respective arms 9 and In which extend toward an intermediate end of the diagonal member 8 and terminate in portions II and I2 which lie in a direction transverse to the visor extending toward and around the top and bottom edges of the visor respectively, where they terminate on the opposite side of the visor in the arms l3 and I l respectively having loops |5 formed in their terminal ends for purposes which will presently be described.

It will be noted from the drawings and particularly from Figures 1 and 2 that the transverse members i are caused to normally lie flat against the top surface of the visor throughout their entire length with the exception of a mid portion l6 which is formed to extend upwardly and out of the axis of the members to provide a finger grip. It will also be noted that the diagonal member 8 extending from opposite respective ends of the members is spaced from contact with the adjacent visor surface throughout substantially its entire length by bowing the same outwardly of its normal axial plane as indicated at H. The portions 9 and H] of the wings 5 and 6 respectively extend in a direction upwardly from the visor surface from their point of juncture with the respective member I as indicated at H? in Figure 2, consequently causing the transverse arms H and I2 to be spaced from the surface of the visor, the arm |2 having an outer portion l9 offset toward the visor surface at its outer end as at 20 but spaced therefrom to provide a visor bearing point or fulcrum and also additional stiffness when the wing 6 is flexed away from the visor.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2 that when the unit is mounted on a sun visor or other backing member, the transverse arms I of the wing portions are the only portions which normally lie in pressure contact with the outer surface of the visor such pressure contact, imposed upon these portions primarily through the bowed diagonal member 8 and the inclined arms 9 and I0 respectively. The end portions I3 and 4 of the unit which extend around the upper and lower edges of-the visor and inwardly of the rear surface thereof, are also spaced from the opposite face of the visor as shown in Figure 2 except that portion defining the looped terminal end of these members. Such portion is in direct pressure contact with the rear face of the visor as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be understood that the device shown in Figure 1 may be used independently of any supplemental unit although, where it is desired posite face of the sun visor, the same may bean-.-

complished by means illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The supplemental unit shown in Figure 3 may comprise a unit somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 1 or it may comprise units of other configurations some of which are illustrated in the other figures of the drawings, particularly Figures 8, 11 and 12, it being understood that units having other configurations may be employed according to the principles of my invention.

The supplemental unit illustrated in Figure 3 includes a diagonal member 2| connecting the transverse members 22 and 23 at opposite ends thereof, the diagonal member 2| being bowed outwardly of the visor as illustrated at 24 in Figure 2 and in a manner somewhat similar to the diagonal member 8 in the Figure 1 on the reverse side of the visor.

The opposite ends of the portions 22 and 23 are provided with arms 25 and 26 respectively extending longitudinally of the visor and inclined upwardly therefrom from the point of juncture with the transverse members 22 and 23 respectively, said arms terminating in open loops 21 so that the open loops |5 of the members I3 and I4 respectively may be interlocked therewith as shown in Figure 3.

It will be noted in connection with this supplemental unit that the transverse members 22 and 23 thereof are provided with grips I6 and lie in pressure contact with the rear face of the visor and that the diagonal member 2| and the arms 25 and 26 lie in planes inclined with respect to the rear surface of the visor. In this manner the supplemental unit is anchored in place. and due to the bowing of the diagonal member 2| and to the angular displacement of the arms 25 and 26 with respect to the visor the portions 22 and 23, the transverse members are at all times in pressure contact with the rear face of the visor. This action is similar to the action occurring on the front face of the visor with respect to the unit shown in Figure 1 in which the wings 5 and 5 including the transverse members l are brought into direct pressure contact with the front face of the visor.

It will readily be seen that in using this form of the invention, the supplemental unit shown in Figure 3 may be employed when it is desired to clamp objects on the rear face of the visor, it being merely necessary to inter-engage the loops 2'! and |5 as shown in Figure 3 to retain the supplemental unit in place.

By this construction the units offer various independent yet cooperating means whereby articles may be clamped against a surface of a sun visor in various positions. For instance, it may be desired to clamp a map, paper or card between the outer visor surface and the wing 6. This may be done by grasping the finger grip l6 and pulling outwardly thereon against th compression of the resilient arm 8 and the inclined arm l0. Since the diagonal arm 8 is bowed from its center portion toward the surface of the visor andsince the arm I0 is inclined downwardly toward the end of the transverse member to which it is connected, considerable pressure will normally be placed upon the member 1 to cause it to lie against the outer surface of the visor under pressure.

The specific construction shown in Figure l and likewise in Figure 3, provides a number of fulcrum points which may be indicated at 28, 29, 3|), 3|, 32 and 33 depending upon the manner in IE and raises the wing I point and operator grasps the grip from the corner indicated at 3|,

point 33 will become fulcrums and under such conditions there may even be a slight rotative movement about the point 2!]. As another example if the wing l is raised at the point indicated at 30, then the points 3t, 33 and 29 become fulcrums for such operation. The same action will take place in connection with the opposite wing 5.

As a still further example, if the wing I is lifted by the grip l6 so that the transverse member I remains substantially parallel and spaced from the adjacent wall of the visor, thenthe points 33 and 29 become fulcrums for such operation.

The supplemental unit will respond in a very similar fashion to the operations described above.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, I have illustrated a second embodiment of the invention which may be described as follows.

In Figure 6 a unit comprisin my invention is shown applied to the front face of a sun visor i. This unit comprises a resilient member formed of a single piece of resilient wire placed under tension by providing a transverse portion 3-4 connected by converging arms and 36 to a plurality of tranverse members 3'! and 38 which, like the member 34, are caused to lie under pressure and in contact with the outer face of the sun visor l as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the transverse members 31 and 38 is integrally connected with the arms 39 and 49 which are inclined upwardly and outwardly of the sun visor to assist the bowed members 35 and 35 respectively in exerting a pressure inwardly of the transverse members 31 and 38 respectively and to cause them to lie firmly against the surface of the visor. The arms 39 and 4!] respectively extend longitudinally of the unit and terminate in transversely disposed members 4| and 42 which :extend out and around the respective edges 2 and 4 of the sun visor, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, and terminate on the rear face thereof in an open looped portion 43 having bearing engagement with the back face of the visor, as shown in Figure 7. As has been explained before the members 35 and 36 are bowed outwardly of the outer face of the visor from their endregions toward their mid sections, as at 44, while the transverse member 34 is provided with a finger grip raised above the surface of the visor as at as shown in Figure 9.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a clamping unit having clamping portions extending longitudinally of the visor and comprising a transverse visor contacting portion 34 and a pair of longitudinally disposed bowed members 35 and 36 constituting an elongated loop operating about the axes of the members 31 and 38 as fulcrums when the said clamping portion isfiexed away from the surface of the visor, while the clamping portions defined by the members 35, 31 and 39 and by the members 36, 33 and 40 extend in an opposite direction longitudinally of the visor and will operate about the axes of the transverse member 34 and the bearing loops 43 each having pressure engagement with the front and rear faces of the visor, respectively.

The unit described above may be used alone or in conjunction with a supplemental unit which is adapted to be releasably attached to the looped ends of the clamping unit lying on the front face of the visor. This supplemental unit may be of similar configuration and is adapted to lie along the rear face of the visor as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 and comprises a single length of resilient wire formed at its ends with outwardly projecting open loops 46 and 4! which are adapted to be interengaged with the open loops '43 of the front face clamping member as indicated more particularly in Figure 8. The supplemental backing member further includes spaced transverse portions 48-and 49 having pressure engagement with the rear face of the visor and connected at their outer ends with the loops 46 and 4'! bymeans of the arms 50 and '5l'respectively.

The inner adjacent ends of the transverse members 48 and 49 continue in a direction substantially longitudinally of the visor in a diverging direction to provide the members 52 and 53 respectively which are connected at their opposite ends by another transverse member 54 having pressure engagement throughout the major portion of its length with the rear surface of the visor. The members 52 and 53 are preferably bowed as illustrated in Figure 10 from their ex tremities inwardly toward their mid sections as at 55. The transverse member 54 may be bowed at 45 intermediate its ends to form a finger grip as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The action of this supplemental clamping memberis quite similar to that already described in connection with the clamping member lying along the front face of the visor. This supplemental member may readily be attached or detached with respect to the clamping member on the opposite face of the visor by merely engaging or disengaging the loops 43 with the loops 4'8 and 41.

Referring now more particularly to Figures ,11 to 14 inclusive, which illustrate another embodiment of the invention, it will be seen that the same is of more simplified form than those illustrated in the remaining figures described above.

The clamping member illustrated in these figures comprises a single loop or wing formed with oppositely and outwardly projecting means under tension for applying and retaining the same over the top and bottom edges of a. sun visor. As in the embodiments previously described, the present embodiment is formed of a single length of resilient wire to substantially the configuration shown. 1

The wing portion may be described as comprising a transverse member 60 which is adapted to lie against the surface of a sun visor under pressure having at its mid section a portion bowed upwardly as at 6| to provide a finger grip. Integral with the endsof the transverse member 60 are the arms 52 and 63 extending in a general longitudinal direction with respect to the visor and converging toward their opposite ends where the wire assumes a generally transverse direction to form the arms 64 and 35 extending toward the opposite edges of the sun visor when the device is applied in use. The arm 64 terminates in a portion extending over the top edge of the sun visor as at 68 and thence downwardly and toward the rear surface of the sun visor as at 61 where the same may terminate in an open loop or may be further extended in a longitudinal direction with respect to the rear surface of the visor as at 68 to eventually terminate in an open loop 69. It will be noted that the longitudinal arm 68 lies in contact and under pressure against the rear face of the visor and that the length of the member 65 is such that the arms 64 and 61 normally are spaced from contact with either side of the visor.

The converging arm 63 is formed at its inner end into a transverse arm 65 having an inwardly offset portion for bearing engagement against the front side of the sun visor to which the de-. vice is attached. Continuing around the lower edge of the visor is a portion H which terminates in a transverse arm 12 extending inwardly of the rear face of the visor but out of contact therewith. Integral with the opposite end of the arm 12 is a pressure member 73 similar to that indicated at 68 and provided with an open loop 14 at its terminal end. If desired, however, the loop 14 may be formed at the juncture of the member 12 and 13 to have bearing engagement with the rear of the visor.

When the wing comprising the members 60, 62 and 63 is flexed outwardly from the front face of the visor, it will move about the points defined by the axis of the member 64 and the terminal ends of the arms 68 and 13. The offset portion 10 provides additional stiffness to one side of the wing although it is obvious that the arm 65 may be continued on eliminating the member 10 and constructed in the manner in which the members 64 and 66 are formed.

It will be observed from the above description of several embodiments of this invention that I have provided means for releasably securing a number of articles between a clamping device and the adjacent surface of a sun visor on which the device is mounted and that by means of this invention such clamping means formed of a single length of resilient wire will accommodate a great many articles, affords a number of selective clamping portions for such articles, and is easy to operate. Furthermore, the operation of one selected portion of the clamping device may be accomplished while the remaining parts unselected for the operation cooperate to retain the unit on the visor against rotative movement thereon. 'It will also be observed that this invention afiords means for clamping articles to the reverse sides of a backing member such as a sun visor when desired and comprises a main or principal unit' adapted to receive a cooperating or supplemental, unit which when attached to the main unitfurther insures against rotative movement of the entire assembly on the visor when one selected portion is o erated to grip an article.

Because of the simplicity of construction and arrangement of parts devices made in accordance with thisinvention can be inexpensively produced with a minimum of forming operations.

Various changes maybe made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An elongated clip of the class described, comprising a single length of resilient wire having its end portions bent upon themselves and lying in a plane transversely of the clip to receive and grip a, backing member inserted therebetween, the portion of the wire between the said transverse gripping portions being bent to form open loops extending on opposite sides of said transverse portions in the plane of the clip, said loops each formed to provide a fiat side disposed substantially parallel to said end portions, said loops having a common connecting member, said last named member extending from the flat side of one loop to the flat side of the oppositely disposed loop, said connecting member being bowed upwardly with respect to the plane of the clip at a point substantially midway of its ends to thereby exert a tension on said loops when said clip is gripping an object on its backing member.

2. The clip defined in claim 1 in which the end portions each comprise a pair of spaced apart converging arms and a wire section connecting said arms of each end portion.

3. The clip defined in claim 2 in which one of the arms of each end portion terminates in a loop lying in the plane transverse to the clip and passing through the converging arms of each respective end portion, said loops thereby having edgewise bearing engagement with the surface of a backing member inserted into said clip.

BERNARD E. THURNESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 263,685 Clark Sept. 5, 1882 303,234 Schneider Aug. 5, 1884 562,620 Kimbell June 23, 1896 695,860 Burson Mar. 18, 1902 758,547 Mapother Apr. 26, 1904 809,049 Gillett Jan. 2, 1906 1,053,008 Carbis Feb. 11, 1913 1,099,819 Ray June 9, 1914 1,104,883 Giesler July 28, 1914 1,106,653 Hollingsworth Aug. 11, 1914 1,179,656 Rosenstein Apr. 18, 1916 1,192,684 Rappleye et al July'25, 1916 1,225,921 Brockway May 15, 1917 1,916,639 Rogers July 4, 1933 2,123,974 Smith July 19, 1938 Gisleson May 29, 1945 

